We generally focus on holidays in Asia or Europe but ignore the Eurasian territory. Thankfully, Eurasia consists of some wonderful and less explored gems like Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Armenia is the least expensive of the three as far as travel budgets are concerned and also my favourite destination in Eastern Europe. In this post, we will explore Yerevan, Armenia’s capital city through the Yerevan city tour.
WHERE TO STAY IN YEREVAN
The ideal accommodation in Yerevan, Armenia is near the city centre. It saves commute time and gives you easy access to all parts of Yerevan. Here are my hotel recommendations –
BUDGET HOTELS
1. Elysium Gallery Hotel – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
2. Teryan Pushkin Apart Hotel – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
3. Boulevard Hotel – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
VALUE FOR MONEY LUXURY HOTELS
1. Central Hotel – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
2. Paris Hotel Yerevan – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
3. Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
LUXURY HOTELS
1. Hhoonj Villas and Apartments – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
2. The Alexander, a Luxury Collection Hotel – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
3. Golden Palace Hotel Yerevan – Book your stay at this hotel by clicking here.
THINGS TO DO IN THE YEREVAN CITY TOUR
Here’s my list of the places to see and things to do in the Yerevan city tour that will help you explore Armenia’s capital city to the fullest.
1. REPUBLIC SQUARE
The Republic Square is the heart of Yerevan city. The square consists of an oval roundabout and another section which contains a pool with musical fountains.
It’s surrounded by government buildings one of which was the House of the Government, others being the National Museum & Marriott hotel.
This place comes alive at night with the lights adding a festive fervour and people are spotted sitting and enjoying the fountain shows with songs & colourful lighting.
It is rightfully tagged as the cultural hub where people from different places come & spend some quality time socializing with other people.
In a lane next to the square, is a line of shops where you can shop for Armenian souvenirs and authentic Armenian products.
2. GENOCIDE MUSEUM
Now there’s a bit of history that Armenia & Turkey share between them. The Armenians generally speak of the atrocities committed by the Turks on their ancestors and haven’t forgiven the Turks.
I’ve been to Turkey previously and am a fan of the country, so I didn’t completely understand the reason for this hostility. After spending a hour & a half at the museum, I understood why the Armenians dislike the Turks.
HISTORY BEHIND THE PLACE
The Armenian Genocide that took place before & after the First World War involved a systematic killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks.
It started with the deportation of Armenians from Constantinople (now Istanbul) to Ankara and ended with them being killed. The Ottoman Turks slaughtered the men, kidnapped/raped the women and religiously converted the children.
Despite all that, Armenians were good at trade, education, industrial growth, book publishing, medicine. In fact they were the pioneers of using innovative technologies even in those times.
OTHER SECTION OF THE MUSEUM
Walking upstairs, you’ll see a memorial complex. This Genocide memorial complex is built on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd to commemorate the Armenians – who died during the genocide.
The memorial is designed with a 44m stone slab symbolizing the national rebirth of the Armenians. Twelve slabs are positioned in a circle, representing the 12 lost provinces in current day Turkey.
There’s an eternal flame at the centre of the 12 slabs dedicated to the 1.5 million people killed during the Genocide.
When you get to the other side of the complex, you’ll reach an empty courtyard area from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city.
Looking at the views, you can only marvel at the bravery of the Armenians who’ve seen so much of bloodshed in their history and yet never lost their spirit.
EXPERIENCE AT THE MUSEUM
It is deeply saddening to read the story of the Genocide on the walls of the museum & your throat will dry up on several instances when you read how brutally the Armenians were murdered.
It’s a numbing feeling when your mind works in imagery and you vividly visualise things as you read them.
You’ll develop a certain amount of respect not out of pity but out of appreciation for the determination & bravery of the Armenian people. I generally don’t find museums appealing but this place didn’t just catch my attention but captured my imagination.
You’ll read, breathe and live the Armenian story through the walls in the museum. An experience at this museum is truly enriching which makes this a must-do place in the Yerevan city tour.
3. WATCH A SHOW AT THE OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE
The famous Opera & Ballet Theatre is the pride of Armenia. It is intimidatingly fabulous in terms of it’s architecture and is the hub of art & culture.
Even when Armenia faced dire situations in it’s history, the Opera always remained a higher priority. It symbolises the relentless fight, tenacity and spirit of the Armenian public.
Performing and working in a Bollywood musical myself, I was keen to see some performance theatre of Armenia but I ran out of luck as there wasn’t any show playing in the theatre that week. I hope you have the goodluck of watching a show or two here!
TIP – In case you don’t get to see a show here, there’s an ice-cream parlour in the premise for consolation.
4. FREEDOM SQUARE
The Freedom Square is another happening place in Yerevan you don’t want to miss out on. It has a number of cafes, outdoor galleries and there’s always a buzz around the place.
Walk up to the statue of Martiros Saryan (considered to be one of the greatest painters of Armenian origin) and you’ll find a beautiful outdoor art gallery.
Local artists & painters neatly arrange and put up their artworks. Water paintings, oil paintings, cloth painting, ceramic plate painting, wooden artwork – the gallery has it all.
Such is the craftsmanship, detail and precision in the artworks on show, that you’ll end up buying some artwork yourself. I ended up buying ceramic plate artwork & an absolutely out-of-the-world dry flower painting made with petals of exotic perfume flowers.
I love how you can bargain a few thousand Armenian drams (no kidding) from the artists here. You’ll find artists who have their own pamphlet with a feature of their works that are internationally famous.
The guy who’s dry flower art I had purchased looked like a struggling artist but he surprised me when he went to his car parked by the tree-side and grabbed change from inside and gave it to me.
Appearances can be deceptive and how! Make sure you include this place in your Yerevan city tour.
TIP – There’s a little cafe across the main road on the opposite side of the Opera theatre. Do have a cappuccino there as it’s absolutely smashing!
5. VISIT THE MOTHER ARMENIA STATUE IN YEREVAN
The next stop in the Yerevan city tour is the famous Mother Armenia statue. Mother Armenia Statue is a captivating place where you can easily spend an hour or two at. Mother Armenia – as the name suggests is a female personification of Armenia.
Standing tall on a pedestal, the statue – located in Victory Park overlooks the entire city of Yerevan. The monumental statue replaces the statue of General Secretary Joseph Stalin that was created as a victory memorial after World War II.
In 1962 the statue of Stalin was removed and replaced by the Mother Armenia statue designed by Ara Harutyunyan. The overall height of the statue along with the pedestal & elevated platform is 51m.
WHAT THE STATUE SYMBOLIZES
The monument symbolises peace through strength & courage. It is an ode to the many brave female warriors & figures in Armenian history like – Sose Mayrig & other women like her who took up arms to help their husbands in their war with the Turkish troops & Kurds.
If you see the statue carefully, then you’ll notice that it looks like an old, muscular lady ready to take some action with her sword. She is seen as the protector, nurturer, saviour, highlighting the important status that older Armenian women have in the family.
It’s location on a hill overlooking the city makes it look like the watchful guardian of Armenia.
IN AND AROUND THE STATUE
If you climb a few steps onto the platform below the pedestal of the statue, then you’ll walk into a museum. This museum displays a gallery of the various bravehearts and legends that fought for Armenian independence.
Outside the museum, there are demo weapons, fighter planes, war-tanks, and missile launchers placed around the Mother Armenia statue for people to visualize what wars must have felt like. Also, there are several stalls of food & drinks lined up for visitor’s convenience.
6. WINE AND DINE AT “TERRAZZA”
All touring and no eating makes the Yerevan city tour a dull affair. If you don’t mind shelling out a few bucks for a great gourmet dining experience, then Terrazza is the place for you in Yerevan.
It has the best Armenian food & seafood besides some refreshing coolers & mocktails. The ambience is warm, cozy and welcoming. The food quality is top notch and the service is equally good.
Royal interiors and a comfortable themed outdoor seating make it an aesthetically beautiful place as well. The prawns, grilled salmon with veggies, steak, chicken & fries are some of it’s specialties. In dessert, the chocolate lava cake is an absolute knockout!
You have to dine here once and the place will ensure you come back again for more. Infact, if you’re staying somewhere far from the city and have a midnight hunger pang, then visit or order online from the Caucasus restaurant.
It’s the only restaurant that gives a 24 hour service.
7. VISIT THE CAFESJIAN CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
Inside the famous Yerevan Cascade, is an art museum called the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts. On your way to the cascade, firstly you’ll see Cafesjian sculpture gardens with sculptures and contemporary artworks on display.
My favourite one is the brown bronze sculpture of a woman smoking a cigarette.
It is a quiet place where you can find space to just sit down, read a book or find inspiration from all the art around you. The line of gardens leads to the cascade which is a complex containing a massive staircase with fountains & sculptures in the terrace garden.
You can go to the top of the cascade if you just want to enjoy the view. To reach the top, either climb up the stairs or go through the center (which is free to enter) and take escalators to the top.
But if you’re into art, then I suggest you to buy tickets to the museum at the entrance. The tickets grant you access to the exclusive art exhibitions at every level.
The only way you can access each tier of the cascade is that first you take an escalator, then get off it- walk to the right – take an elevator to go down in the cascade and enter a gallery.
Inspired by the vision of its founder, Gerard L. Cafesjian, the Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, derived from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection of contemporary art.
ART GALLERIES INSIDE THE CAFESJIAN CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
The Cafesjian Art Galleries include the Gallery One, Khanjyan Gallery, Eagle Gallery, Sasuntsi Davit Garden Gallery, Star Landing and the Special Events Auditorium.
In the Khanjyan gallery, a huge mural is executed by Soviet & Armenian painter Grigor Khanjyan. The 3 primary scenes of the mural illustrate important events in Armenian history – Armenian Alphabet, Vardanank, Resurrected Armenia.
The detailing involved in the making of the mural is awe-inspiring. You’ll end up wondering if it’s humanly possible to make a piece of art that well-defined & intricate.
If the fine details are a characteristic of Khanjyan, then the sculptural technique is the USP of the next gallery.
In the Sasuntsi Davit Gallery – “basrelief” – the sculpting protrudes out of the wall like a 4-D artwork. The sculpture is 15 times larger than the original graphic piece it is translated from, making it a contemporary masterpiece.
MY FAVOURITE ART EXHIBIT – “THE FLY”
My favourite part is this art exhibit called “The FLY” from Armenian artist & designer Arman Nur. He creates an artwork – a one-line painting with the silhouette of Yerevan and a special animation, tracing guess what?
The trajectory of a fly!
He was present there at the Center to explain his artwork. He also showed us a live demo of it’s working. In this, the “stressful fly” moves in a trajectory creating a single line painting of his own face.
His aim is to transfer the viewer into a virtual parallel reality and perceive reality in a different manner. He wants us to see life from the eyes of something as small, perceivably disgusting & insignificant as a Fly.
He even plans to go to Paris & show the same artwork. This time with the exception of the fly tracing the silhouette of the map of Paris. How freaking creative is that!
He then offered us the “Fly spectacles” that he created, to see the world from the eyes of a fly. I must say it felt surreal – like another dimension altogether.
The concept was to view the relationship between mankind & nature through the Prism of Love. His speech was translated to us by this lovely lady called Annahit from Sweden (Thankyou mam!).
REST OF THE EXPERIENCE
After Arman Nur’s excellence, you’ll see the Gerard L. Cafesjian collection or the Eagle Garden Gallery. Some of the exhibits look so amazingly close to real life that you’ll feel you’re in Madame Tussaud.
At the top level is the Swarovski crystal museum. After this, you can climb a few stairs to get to the top of the cascade.
It offers a terrific view of Yerevan city. The place fills you with a sense of contentment. A feeling similar to the one that hits you after watching a brilliant film. This place was my personal favourite in the Yerevan city tour.
8. PAMPER YOURSELF AT THE WINE AND GRAPE SPA
If you want a 3 hour pampering of the highest order, then a session here is the best thing to do. The Wine & Grape Spa prides itself on spa treatments involving the sweet grapes from the Ararat valley.
They say that once you dip in the wine made from this fruit, you will, after the treatment, feel youthful & strong. Even if you’re a guy, I recommend you to choose the Goddess package.
The name of the package has got nothing to do with gender. It just has the most number of treatments included (9 treatments).
They base their treatments on the healing magical properties of grape seeds & fresh blend that rejuvenates & provides the essential nutrients your skin desires. All this while you get to sip the Ararat grape wine yourself.
If this isn’t Royal Wellness, show me what is!
I have had spa treatments at various spa centres in the world but let me tell you that even I have never experienced something like this.
Not many people who come to Yerevan know of this hidden gem, so I absolutely recommend you to include a visit to this spa in your Yerevan city tour itinerary.
The treatments are not that expensive. Plus you get a couple’s discount on the packages.
9. PARTY AT THE PAPARAZZI
Paparazzi is certainly the best party pub in the city of Yerevan. If you visit this place, then make sure you do it late night on the weekends. I went to this place during the week and had the entire place to myself.
The pub has plush interiors, an attractive bar counter and a classy ambience. There’s also a cafe at the top in case you’re feeling a bit mellow. The bartenders are friendly and know how to put on a show to entertain you while making your drink.
Travellers/Tourists get free rounds of “welcome drinks”, so make sure you play your visitor card. The sound system is thumping with the beats setting up the mood for the night. And the drinks? You’ve got to be here to experience that.
TIP – Try the Surprise Motherfucker drink. You’re welcome.
10. ENJOY ARMENIAN FOOD AT “QAGHAQ PANDOK”
A Yerevan city tour without an authentic Armenian food experience is incomplete. Afterall, tasting local cuisine is the most important part of a memorable travel experience.
So staying in the capital of Armenia, it’s all the more imperative to taste local Armenian food. Qaghaq Pandok gives you all that and more! Get a taste of the best traditional Armenian food accompanied with some fine wine at this place.
The interiors are warm and resemble a Hogwarts-like film set with it’s wooden furniture and lighting. The food is fresh, flavoursome, tasty and filling. There are a variety of options for both – vegetarian & non-vegetarian food.
The service is swift and I’d suggest you remember what you ordered because you won’t understand the Armenian font in the bill during the time of payment. It’s the perfect end to a long satisfying travel day.
CONCLUSION
So that’s my guide on the Yerevan city tour exploring the beautiful capital city of Yerevan, Armenia. Armenia is like a delightful budget-friendly surprise, punching much above it’s weight.
In fact it has quietly sneaked into my list of favourite destinations, leaving many famous overrated expensive destinations behind. Yerevan, the capital city is the perfect blend of art, history, and culture, blending well with the modern times. And did I mention the women of Armenia?
It’s like a Fashion Week Parade happening on streets with gorgeous women everywhere – be it at currency exchange centres or supermarkets. Too bad I couldn’t settle in Yerevan to find a date for myself because of the return ticket that I’d booked in advance. Better luck next time to me I guess!
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64 comments
What a great trip idea! I truly love all the history, monuments and scenic views. I’d love to travel here someday.
What a beautiful city and country! It looks like you had a great time!
I love learning about new places to visit in Europe. As an american tourist, I’ve done the UK, France, and Italy. I love the idea of somewhere new and different.
It’s not often you find details of visiting countries Armenia! What a beautiful place!
To be honest Armenia has never been on my bucket list. But these pictures and the wealth of history is making me more and more curious about it.
The Republic Square looks beautiful. The Mother of Armenia statue looks pretty cool. The wine and grape spa sounds like the perfect way to get pampered. Your post makes me want to visit Armenia!
Looks like there are some amazing places out there in Armenia. I would definitely want to check out the holocaust museum there. And the place with all the art was pretty awesome as well. Love getting to know the culture.
I knew nothing about Armenia and Yerevan before reading your post. I can see that there is a lot of history in the city and that you can visit many places that remind of the recent events there. I do enjoy arts so I would be interested in going to the Cafesjian Centre for Arts.
You’d love it there Joanna. Independent exclusive exhibitions with life-like art works are a treat for art lovers! The sheer magnificence and maintainence of the works is worth appreciation!
You have such a GIFT with words! You have a way of making history come alive! I thoroughly enjoyed every word. And I am so amazed by the spirit of the Armenian people despite the atrocities! I hope I can visit here as well as Turkey one day!
I am glad you feel so and actually took the effort to read it. Means a lot! The Armenians are indeed a humble, sweet, hardworking bunch of people. And Turkey is a delightful experience of a kind! Travel is such a blessing sometimes.
I am not much of a traveler, but my daughters have traveled extensively around Europe and Asia. They have not been to the places you show so I will share this with them for future travel plans. Your pictures are amazing.
Thankyou Debby. I hope you too join your daughters on the travel bandwagon!
Mehta, This is one of the best traveling blog I came across. Your posts are always great and the way capture your pictures are amazing.
Thankyou Bushra. Means a lot. Makes all the effort creating the post..worth it 🙂 Keep encouraging and following!
Armenia, looks like great place to visit, I may plan some time. Not sure when . You take beautiful pictures. Love that Beer cocktail with Heineken.
Haha you mean the Surprise Motherfucker cocktail? That’s what it’s apparently called.
Wow What an amazing tour of Armenia! Your pictures were full of life and color and it makes me want to go visit. Thank you bringing it to life!
Oh my gosh, so much to mention! First, I love blog posts like these because I seldom travel and a great read like this one allows me to escape into your narrative and illustrations of such wonder and adventure. The museums, restaurants, art galleries and breathtaking views – you really brought me into the joy of your trip. Thank you.
Glad I could have you hop on to my travel joyride and experience the place. What’s your favourite travel destination?
Armenia looks like a beautiful country. I hope that I will sometimes have the opportunity to visit it.
I would definitely enjoy going around historical Armenia. And then I would most definitely stop by that wine and grape after a long tour. Nice way to cap the day. 😀
Wow. So much history here! The museum looks like a great place to visit and learn a bit about the history!
Wow! I’m impressed with your photos. I never pictured Armenia looking like this. Stunning! And that drink..! 🙂
These sound like some amazing places to go and visit. I am sure the Genocide Museum is a place full of so much emotion, a very hard place to go and visit in some ways.
I love that they give tourists free drinks. Sounds like a great place to visit.
Haha, how’s that for hospitality aye’!
Wow! There are so many parts of the world that gets unseen. Thank you for sharing. The fly spectacles though…
Republic Square is really amazing. Every part of photos screams historical vibe. Would definitely go for Armenia once. First list would be Republic Square, then rest of the places for sight seeing. or maybe Mother Armenia for like 10 minutes.
Oh wow, this place looks absolutely breathtaking. The Centre for the Arts and the Genocide Museum have really piqued my interest – and I will be writing those down on my list of places to visit one day. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photography
I’m a sucker for both history and architecture, so this looks right up my alley. I hope to get there one day!
This is a very detailed post. It’s fantastic! Looks like this is a very artistic city. My daughter would love it. I personally would go for the food. 🙂
Food > anything else, isn’t it?!
The architecture is amazing but the history is tragic. Thanks for sharing the history and pictures of this place.
Great tour! The museum is very interesting and the Opera House is gorgeous. And the spa, oh my!
What a beautiful place to visit. I have heard great things about Armenia. I hope to go one day.
Wow, this is the place I am thinking of exploring next year. Been to many parts of Europe and Asia but not yet this part of the world. This is certainly a good guide for me. May I check if you have a complete itinerary for these 3 countries in details? I wonder how do you connect from one country to another, via bus or train or flight?
The 3 countries as in? I’ve mentioned just Armenia buddy. And if you plan to do all the 3 in the tri fecta of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan..then you can traverse it through bus if you want to enjoy the view. Else flight is convenient too.
This place looks outstanding. What is the best time to visit Armenia? Any hotel recommendation too for this place? Thanks for sharing your experience
Best time to visit is May-June. And hotel recommendations are given in the other posts under the destination Armenia. Do check them out!
I’ve never thought about visiting Armenia. After reading your post I’m aso curious and intrigued. So much culture, history, beautiful places. I’m becoming a fan of your blog. Thanks for sharing.
It looks like there is a lot of history in Yerevan and that the Armenian people do respect their heritage by building so many museums and statues dedicated to their heroes. The opera house buildings is so beautiful, I can imagine how amazing it would be to assist to a performance inside.
Wow, so many interesting places to check out. We love exploring when we travel, and this sounds like it would be cool to check out.
You save us a lot of penny, you know what this is an absolute virtual travel already. Thank you for sharing your experience.
There are so many things to experience in Yerevan! The interactions with the artists caught my eye (art through the perspective of a fly?). Also, if you give me some good restaurants and a spa…it makes me a very happy traveler.
That. Drink. Scares. Me. But. The. Name. Entertains. Me.
That drink. When a bartender smashes a beer bottle so neatly in front of you, you’re bound to be at a loss of words for a second.
This looks like such an interesting place. I would love to get accustomed with the culture of “Eastern Europe’s” unexplored gem!
Love the drink, that is so creative! I wasn’t aware there was so much to do in Armenia. I would love to visit one day.
What beautiful art and architecture! Yerevan seems like it is a wonderful place to visit, full of history and culture.
This sounds like such a historical yet beautiful place to visit! I will add it to my travel bucket list!!
Wow, never been this part of the world but the place look very beautiful. There are so much to see in Yerevan and def. need to check it out next year when I go to Turkey for my friends wedding. Thx for a good suggestion!
Eurasia consists of some wonderful less explored places, that’s why it never made my bucket list. But I’m seeing a lot about the people and history which is very interesting to my curious side.
These are interesting things to see and do! Yerevan packs quite a punch! I’d love to visit this place one day. Looks so cool!
It’s my first time to hear about Yerevan but seeing the places to visit there and what to do, I’ll have to add it to my bucket list.
Thanks so much for sharing this post! I was never aware that there was a museum dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, or that it was located in Yerevan. I’ll definitely be adding visiting Yerevan to my list!
KB
Oh my goodness what a stunning place. Armenia was not a destination I had in mind, but clearly should be. I can see myself turning this post into a list and crossing every item out.
What an amazing tour this would be! I doubt I’ll ever get the opportunity to travel there, but I enjoyed the virtual tour you provided with the pictures and descriptions. The art exhibitions are especially interesting and the architecture of some of the buildings is stunning! I noticed in the first picture, some of the design in the building’s exterior looks like patchwork quilt blocks!
Wow this looks beautiful and what a memorable tour. I hope I eventually get the opportunity to travel here. The architecture is absolutely stunning.
If I am going to Yerevan, I will stay for a month! There are so many things to see and do. We live in the Philippines so the fare is pretty steep going there. So we might as well take advantage of the fact that we are already there to explore this lovely place!
This seems like the perfect mix of history and architecture! There are some very powerful places on this list! Visitor have options for fun, relaxation and education! Judging by the pics the weather isn’t too bad too!
I’ve never heard of Yerevan! It looks like a beautiful city though. How do you even find out about the place and travel so much. I’m jealous of you..the post is such a thorough study of the place. Love wanderlust!
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